School tables released today reveal just how popular Newcastle’s secondary and primary schools are with parents and guardians.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act for the Chronicle show how many applications were made for state school places in the region for 2014/15, as well as the number of places actually available.

In Newcastle, St Mary’s Catholic School topped the popularity poll, clocking up 537 applications for 196 available places - this worked out at an average of 2.7 applications per place.

Heaton Manor had more applications from parents and guardians at 608, but the school had 310 places up for grabs, working out at an average of two applications per place.

Information on the number of applications and the ratio of applications to places gives an overall idea of how popular a school is with parents.

The most sought after primary school in the city was Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School with 210 applications for just 30 places, meaning there were seven applications per place.